IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1543307
52 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY 2026 F E AT U R E I N T E RV I E W BY M A R CY L A R O N T, I - C O N N ECT0 07 GROWING an ENGINEER J ulian Vega started as a 17-year-old intern who rose to planning supervisor at Summit Inter- connect in just seven years, and credits the Global Electronics Association's Emerging Engi- neer program for fueling his passion and accel- erating his career journey. In this interview, Julian shares how the program expanded his technical perspective, connected him with industry leaders, and helped shape his vision for the future. Marcy LaRont: Julian, thank you for being open to sharing your experience with us. Tell me about your journey with Summit Interconnect? Julian Vega: Thank you for the opportunity. I'm currently a planning supervisor at the Orange (California) facility. I started seven years ago as an intern at the nearby Anaheim facility, assisting process engineers gauge how long certain types of boards would take to get through the factory. After two years in Anaheim, I moved to Orange to work in the sales department, helping create stackups for quoting fabrication. I developed into a job planner in the front end engineering (FEE) department and now I am a planning supervisor in that department. Summit has a real commitment to the Emerging Engineer program. When did you go through the program and what did you know about it when you started? I started my program in 2023 and finished in 2025. My baseline knowledge came from my boss, Michael Lowry. He had gone through the program two years before. Meet Emerging Engineer Julian Vega